From then on, the boy didn't cry again. As they walked, Bel talked to him to keep him happy and gave him some of the candy the old woman had given them.

—Bel, you know we can't take that child with us, don't you?— said Arturo.

—What? Really?

—What are you going to do if we don't find his parents? Are you going to keep him?

—I don't think I could do that... but we can't leave him out there alone either.

Arturo nodded, he was right about that.

However, this time they didn't need a solution. After about fifteen minutes, a noni couple appeared out of nowhere and approached them, both very agitated.

—Gerardo! Gerardo!— they shrieked, looking at the child in Bel's arms.

—It's my parents!— the boy shouted at the man, anxiously.

—Really? — Bel let out a laugh.

Carefully, he put the boy down. The noni family gathered in a tight embrace. Again they thanked them a lot and Liliana took the opportunity to approach the conversation.

—Hey, Bel, maybe they know about the inn we're looking for.

—Oh, right!— he remembered— Do you guys happen to know of an inn with a green zizin symbol?

The parents looked at each other, thinking.

—That must be the inn of the "Sick sergeant"— explained the man.

—It's the only one with that little animal— clarified the lady— follow this street for five blocks and then turn right, there is no other like it.

The noni family said goodbye to the humans and left. The boy waved his hands at Bel encouragingly, before almost stumbling as he walked looking backwards.

—All right, that was easy— Bel commented— Let's go to the inn! I'll buy you a drink when we get there.

—Of course!— replied Erica, lost in thought.

—"Sick sergeant" doesn't begin with a "g"— growled Arturo.

Bel turned to him with a smile plastered on his face. At the sight of him, the mage could not hold a grudge for something so trivial.

—What's wrong?— asked Bel, seeing him smiling at him.

—Nothing— said the mage.

The girls marched behind, because the street was full of people and the four of them could not go in a row. Erica kept her eyes glued on Bel, admiring him with shy curiosity. At first she had been attracted to him because of his face, his figure and his smile, but after seeing him unwind with that pet and that boy, she was attracted to him in a different way. Liliana, in the meantime, didn't find him as impressive or attractive, but she was beginning to appreciate him anyway for the way he treated people.

Soon they arrived at the inn they had been told about. It had the symbol of a green bird with a large, unruly feather perched on its head. The inn was an old building in a very bohemian neighborhood of bars and stages.

—This is it!— he exclaimed.

They hadn't taken three steps toward the inn when a woman called out to them.

—Hey, Bel!

Turning around, the four of them were confronted by a long, slender, sharp—eyed, unfriendly—looking woman with long, dark red hair tied in a ponytail. The woman approached Bel with a jaded expression.

—Severa!— he greeted, cheerfully.

Bel stretched out her arms to catch her in them, but Severa kicked him in the head, with so much power that it made a clatter. Bel didn't seem affected at all.

—Damn it, Bel, we've been looking for you for hours!— shouted the woman— When are you going to stop disappearing whenever you feel like it?! On top of that, your mother called me to ask how you were, right after Morgana told me that you had disappeared!

—I'm sorry, I'm sorry!— Bel replied, with a smile on his face.

—Didn't that kick hurt?— Liliana wondered.

—It was very loud— observed Arturo.

Then another girl appeared, young, perhaps younger than the children, next to the lanky woman. This one was short and with a calm expression, as if she was waking up from a great night's sleep. She had long black messy hair and a light dress.

—What have you gotten yourself into this time, Bel?— she asked in a muffled little voice.

—Nothing— he pleaded, like a child accustomed to answer for his mischief— Nothing happened.

Then he pointed to the three kids.

—Let me introduce you to my new friends; Erica, Liliana and Arturo. They found me in the river and helped me get back here, didn't you guys?

—Well yes, we did— Erica answered, not understanding why Bel seemed nervous in front of those two women.

They examined them closely. Severa looked like she wanted to kill them, while the other girl didn't look very interested.

—Friends?— Severa repeated.

—Yes! They are very nice— Bel then turned to introduce the women— these are my bodyguards, Severa and Morgana. I know they may seem like a pain in the ass, but deep down they are nice people.

Severa grabbed Bel in a headlock to immobilize him by the arm and neck.

—What's that about "deep down"? For all the trouble you put us through, we are saints, aren't we, Morgana?

—Yep.

—I was kidding, sorry, sorry— apologized Bel, who didn't seem to mind the headlock.

Finally Severa let go of Bel and approached the children to shake their hands.

—Anyway, thanks for helping him. I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble.

—Not at all— Erica said.

—Good. Bel, say goodbye, we're in a hurry.

—What?— he seemed surprised —We don't even have time for a drink?

—No! Because of you we don't have time! —Severa clenched her hands around her head— We were about to find that harpy, and you're the one who thinks of staying at a party that wasn't your business! Now we have to start from scratch!

—Are you looking for a woman?— Arturo noticed.

Then Severa turned to him, dumbfounded. She had not wanted to reveal that detail.

—What's going on is...— she looked at her companions for help, nervously — is that... well...

—We're bounty hunters— explained Bel— we're looking for a criminal.

Liliana noticed that at that precise moment, Severa and Morgana wrinkled their faces, just for an instant.

—Yes, yes, that's it— added Severa, a bit nervous— she is a very dangerous criminal. You wouldn't want to know about her. Now come on, Bel. We really have to go.

Severa turned and started to leave. On her way she grabbed Bel by the arm to make sure he didn't get lost. Morgana followed close behind. As they dragged him along, Bel turned to say goodbye.

—Have a nice day, my friends! I wish you all the best.

The children didn't know what to do but wave their hands. Erica would have liked a more memorable farewell, but she didn't know what to say. Perhaps she just felt like dragging out the moment.

---------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Bel and his guard turned around a corner to continue their way. Severa looked over her shoulder to make sure they weren't being followed.

—Well?— she asked Bel.

—What?

—Didn't you know those three are wanted criminals? Their rewards are sky high.

—Yes, I recognized them from the posters— Bel admitted.

—So? Why didn't you catch them? On top of that, that blonde one is a brika. Sooner or later we'll have to deal with her.

Bel sighed. Morgana looked at him, watching for his reaction.

—I thought so, but... I like them. All three of them are good people. If I can, I'd rather avoid having to hurt them.

Severa folded her arms.

—So they are actually your friends, huh? —she meditated for a long while, until she came to a decision —All right, I won't report it to your mother, but bear in mind the possibility that the three of us could get in trouble for this.

—Thank you, Severa. You're a sweetheart— said Bel, and kissed her on the cheek.

—Ah, Morgana won't tell anyone either— said Morgana.

—Haha. Of course, thank you, Morgana— he said, before kissing her too.

—Now let's concentrate on the mission, shall we?— said Severa— We have already wasted enough time with distractions....

But at that moment Bel broke away from them. Stunned, his guards turned to find him helping an old man who was carrying more grocery bags than he could carry in his skinny arms.

—Bel, for fuck's sake!

---------------------------------------------------

With nothing else to do, the kids asked for a room at the inn and then went to wander the streets some more. There they found an arcade. They entertained themselves with virtual racing, fighting games and shooting zombies. Erica thought at first that Liliana would get bored immediately, but she found it quite entertaining.

—I didn't think you liked games— she said, surprised.

—I don't like them— she admitted— but it's fun to play with you two.

Erica, moved, sank her head on Arturo's chest and pretended to cry.

—I can't stand it, Arturo, she's so cute!— she pleaded.

—I know— he said.

Then they went to a game where they had to throw a ball at a target to accumulate points. Erica barely hit the edge of the target, Liliana hit it to the side and finally Arturo threw his ball with minimal effort and hit it in the center. However, the ball did not go down into the basket like the others, but floated in the air to hit the center of the target again, and again, and again, and again, and again.

—That's cheating!— Erica protested.

—Nowhere does it say that magic can't be used— Arturo argued.

Liliana covered his eyes from behind and Arturo had no choice but to release the ball from his mind control.

—Ah, damn!

They spent more than an hour in the arcade. When they finally left, they noticed half a block away a group of people gathered around some street performers. In the center was a volir dancing, while behind her four nonis played intricate melodies on drums and stringed instruments. The dancer wore a beautiful veil on her head and wrists that spread her wake, and strange devices on her neck and arms that produced different colored lights, depending on the movements she made.

The music was so good and the dance so mesmerizing that at least a hundred people had gathered around to watch them.

—Oh, what a nice dance!— commented Liliana to her friends.

She didn't expect anyone to take her opinion seriously, but suddenly the volir turned to her with wide eyes, took her by the hand and asked her to dance.

Erica immediately prepared to separate her hands in case the volir insisted too much, but then Liliana took off her coat, gave it to Arturo and went with her.

The dancer took Liliana to one of the musicians, who left the drum for a moment to quickly put a suit similar to the volir's over her clothes. Then Liliana followed the woman, who guided her with easy steps. Liliana picked up the rhythm in no time and soon they were dancing so well together that it almost seemed as if they had prepared the whole show together.

When the show was over, the volir hugged her and thanked her, she seemed happy. Liliana said goodbye to the audience, returned the costume with lights and went back to her friends.

—That was great!— Erica congratulated her.

—I love it when you dance— added Arturo.

—Thank you, thank you. It was a lot of fun— she indicated.

Erica stared at her for a while in admiration. She had never expected Liliana to go out dancing with such a sudden invitation; her friend was more daring than she had thought all that time.

Later they walked away from the commotion, walking calmly back towards the inn.

—You were stunning!— commented Erica— the way you moved was beautiful.

Liliana was overwhelmed with happiness. Somewhat flushed by the flattery, she put her hands to her face in embarrassment. Erica laughed.

They continued to praise her for a while, excited, until it got tiresome. After that, they kept silent for a moment, walking unsynchronized and holding hands. Occasionally one would take a long step and pull the other, at other times the third one would lean more than necessary and push the one besides next to them. All this caused them to touch, to look at each other. Their journey became more intimate. They liked being like this, the three of them.